Snow possible Friday, but warmer than usual winter in forecast

Editor's note: After our print deadline Thursday, the National Weather Service updated its forecast for the Tri-City area to include the possibility of snow Friday.

The possibility of snow Friday morning is in the forecast for parts of south Louisiana. But don’t get your hopes up for a white Christmas.
“We are right on the edge of going into a La Niña year, so you can expect more of dryer and warmer weather in the future,” said Jared Rackley, meteorologist of the National Weather Service in Lake Charles.
Rackley said the temperature for the next three winter months of December, January and February are predicted to be above normal averages.
“You will always have fluctuation with cold fronts but you can expect more days with temperature above normal throughout the upcoming months,” said Rackley.
Average temperature highs for the upcoming winter months are 60-degrees in December, 63-degrees in January and 66-degrees in February. Average temperature lows are 44-degrees in December, 43-degrees in January and 46-degrees in February.
Rackley also said that precipitation for the area is predicted to be slightly below normal for the upcoming winter months. Rain averages for the winter months are 4.8 inches in December, 5.3 inches in January and 4.1 inches in February.
La Niña is a pattern of cooler temperatures in the south Pacific. It’s the flip side of El Niño, a warm-water pattern associated with extreme weather and reduced hurricane risk on the Gulf Coast.
KATC reported that snow is possible Friday in the Lafayette area.
WAFB says a wintry mix of snow and rain is possible Thursday night in the Baton Rouge area.
The National Weather Service forecast for the Morgan City area makes no mention of snow or sleet, although rain and temperatures near freezing are expected.